Leon Washington Out After Gruesome Right Leg Injury

The Jets will be without running back Leon Washington for an extended period of time after he suffered a brutal right leg injury at Oakland.

Washington was injured on a six-yard carry -- his only rush of the game -- when an Oakland player rolled onto his ankle, causing his lower leg to bend in awkward fashion.

Washington appeared to be in tremendous pain after the play and was eventually carted off. According to the Associated Press, Washington suffered a broken fibula and underwent surgery immediately after the Jets' 38-0 win. Teammates said the bone broke right through the skin.

"That's unfortunate," coach Rex Ryan said. "It's obviously a severe injury, but hopefully he'll be joining us sooner than later."

Thomas Jones will stay New York's No. 1 back, and rookie Shonn Greene's responsibilities will increase from here out. Greene rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns in Washington's absence.

"Anytime we have a game like that, you want to cherish and enjoy it, but it's kind of hard to do that with Leon's injury," Jones said. "I think a lot of the team is devastated. He's one of my best friends. He's a great teammate and a great person. From the time he left the game, every couple plays I kept thinking about him. I haven't stopped thinking about it, and my prayers are going out to his family."

Unfortunately for Washington, he's a free agent at the end of this year. If he misses the remainder of the season, it will make it difficult for him to land a nice deal for 2010 -- a reality that would be doubly painful for Washington since he spent the offseason trying to convince the Jets to give him a new deal.

Washington has been an important part of the Jets' offense for the past four seasons, especially as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Through six games, Washington had carried the ball 71 times for 325 yards and caught 15 passes for 131 yards.

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New York Jets Photos

The New York Jets' Shonn Greene (23) breaks to the outside against the Oakland Raiders in the second quarter. The Jets defeated the Raiders, 38-0, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, Sunday, October 25, 2009. (Anda Chu/Oakland Tribune/MCT)

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New York Jets Photos

Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable calls a play during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets. The Jets defeated the Raiders, 38-0, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, Sunday, October 25, 2009. (Anda Chu/Oakland Tribune/MCT)

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The Oakland Raiders' Jonathan Holland (23) is tackled by New York Jets' Marquice Cole during first-quarter action. The Jets defeated the Raiders, 38-0, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, Sunday, October 25, 2009. (Anda Chu/Oakland Tribune/MCT)

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Oakland Raiders running back Justin Fargas (25) finds a hole in the New York Jets' defense for a gain in the first quarter. The Jets defeated the Raiders, 38-0, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, Sunday, October 25, 2009. (Anda Chu/Oakland Tribune/MCT)

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New York Jets' Leon Washington is helped off the field after an injury against the Oakland Raiders in an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Oakland Raiders' Richard Seymour, right, tackles New York Jets running back Thomas Jones in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Oakland Raiders' Cooper Carlisle sits on the bench in the final minutes of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. The Jets won 38-0. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

New York Jets running back Thomas Jones runs past Oakland Raiders cornerback Chris Johnson in the third quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell sits on the bench in the closing minutes of Oakland's 38-0 loss to the New York Jets in an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)